Karen Burns Memorial Scholarship Fund

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What is the Karen Burns Memorial Scholarship Fund?

The Karen Burns Memorial Student Scholarship Fund has been created in memory of a former Fourth Baptist Christian School teacher, Karen Burns, and will provide scholarship money for deserving students to attend Fourth Baptist Christian School when they are in need of financial assistance.


Why Do We Need a Scholarship Fund?

Fourth Baptist Christian School exists to partner with parents by providing excellent academics and biblical teaching in a Christ-honoring environment. Many families who understand the value of a Christian education and wish to keep their children enrolled at FBCS are families who are in Christian service, have multiple children in our school, or have had recent hardships such as job loss due to the downturn in our economy. They simply do not have the financial means to keep their children enrolled in Fourth Baptist Christian School. It is our desire to minister to these families by helping them financially.

Who Benefits?

The beneficiaries of this fund are deserving students who are of good character and are striving for excellence in their areas of study, but find themselves in need of financial help in order to continue their education at Fourth Baptist Christian School. Applications for assistance from the scholarship fund will be reviewed annually by a scholarship committee.

How Can You Be Involved?

You can partner with FBCS by your contribution to this fund. A tax-deductible donation can be made on a regular basis, or as a one-time gift to the fund. You may make a secure donation online via PayPal. You will be investing in the lives of current and future FBCS students, with eternal benefits. Thank you for your consideration!

A Short Biography of Mrs. Karen Burns

Mrs. Karen Burns, who joined Fourth Baptist Church in 1949, received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Art Education from St. Cloud Teachers’ College in 1960. After teaching art in the Richfield school system for three years, Dr. Clearwaters, pastor of the church, asked her to come and develop a fine arts program in the newly established school. During this time, she acquired a serious disease, multiple sclerosis, but began her Lord’s new calling with abandon. She indeed did all things “through Christ which strengthened her” (Philippians 4:13).

Karen loved teaching and she loved her students. Artistic development was always secondary to each student’s spiritual growth. Every class began with scripture and a challenge. Her class motto “train your eyes to see what God has created” still resonates with many of her former students. She directed her students to create projects with a purpose in mind. Only their best work was acceptable. The highlight of each year was the Annual Art Show where many creative works were displayed in the Narthex of the church. Many of these were also shown at the Minnesota State Fair. To this day, student art work hangs on walls or sits on coffee tables in many parents’ homes.

Mrs. Burns was instrumental in helping many students attend the school. She taught at FBCS for 21 years and spent another 10 years teaching home school students in her home. She went home to be with her Lord on June 18, 2010.